Modern government isn’t just about adopting new technologies—it’s about embracing a new way of thinking. Transformation succeeds when leaders, teams, and organizations adopt the right mindset: one that is agile, collaborative, and open to the possibilities of digital and AI-driven innovation.

This session will explore how to create the conditions for practical, scalable change. From breaking down silos and modernizing culture, to embedding AI responsibly and securely into services, we’ll look at how governments can build a future-ready public sector that is both connected and citizen-centered.

This session will help you apply new approaches on how you can turn ambition into action, and mindset into measurable impact.

• Build a culture of innovation that drives lasting change
  
• Leverage AI responsibly to enhance efficiency and decision-making
  
• Connect systems and services to deliver seamless citizen experiences
  
• Shift mindsets to embrace agility, collaboration, and resilience

Digital transformation starts with one critical enabler: data. This session explores how the federal government can move beyond silos to build trusted, connected data ecosystems that power innovation, service delivery, and policy decisions.

This session will help you apply new approaches on how you can design data hubs, strengthen governance, and unlock the full value of information across departments and jurisdictions.

• Treat data as the foundation for every transformation priority
  
• Build and operate central data hubs that break down silos
  
• Embed governance, privacy, and quality as pillars of trust
  
• Enable secure, interoperable data sharing across government
  
• Turn connected data into actionable insights for better services and outcomes

As governments explore the power of AI, ethical frameworks must guide every step—from development to deployment. This session explores how public sector leaders are embedding transparency, fairness, and accountability into AI systems while driving innovation.

This session will help you apply new approaches on how you can operationalize ethical principles, manage risk, and maintain public trust in automated decision-making.

• Embed ethical guardrails into AI design and implementation
  
• Align AI use with human rights, privacy, and policy goals
  
• Build internal capacity to assess and monitor algorithmic bias
  
• Engage stakeholders to ensure responsible and inclusive innovation

AI and automation aren’t just abstract innovations—they’re tools that can help public sector teams work smarter, faster, and with greater impact. This panel will explore how leaders across digital, IT, and HR are embedding AI into everyday operations to streamline workflows, enhance decision-making, and free up capacity for higher-value public service.

• Share practical use cases of AI and automation driving internal productivity
  
• Discuss how AI is transforming both IT systems and workforce strategies
  
• Explore challenges around adoption, skills, and change management
  
• Highlight cross-functional approaches to scaling AI tools responsibly

Mobility is no longer just about moving people and goods—it’s about creating connected, digital-first services that make government simpler, smarter, and more accessible. As public expectations rise and technologies evolve, transportation agencies must embrace innovation to deliver seamless, secure, and citizen-centered experiences.

In this session, Dugald Topshee, Director General of the Business Solutions Directorate at Transport Canada, will share how digital government is reshaping the future of mobility. From modernizing service delivery and enabling data-driven decision-making to building connected systems that anticipate citizen needs, this keynote will spotlight how digital transformation is helping Transport Canada move from process-heavy operations to agile, proactive, and user-friendly services.

This session will help you apply new approaches on how you can:

• Build digital services that make transportation safer, faster, and more accessible
  
• Leverage data and AI to inform real-time decision-making and policy
  
• Break down silos and connect systems across departments and jurisdictions
  
• Align modernization efforts with evolving citizen and industry needs

Artificial intelligence holds the potential to transform every corner of government—but only if it is designed, deployed, and governed in a way that reflects Canadian values of trust, accountability, and security. Sovereign AI is not just about technology; it is about national resilience, digital independence, and the ability to protect data while driving innovation.

In this session, Joanna Murphy, Director General of Security Management and Governance at Shared Services Canada, will explore how the Government of Canada is approaching sovereign AI to balance opportunity with responsibility. She will spotlight strategies to strengthen governance, safeguard sensitive information, and ensure that AI adoption empowers public servants and citizens alike.

This session will help you apply new approaches on how you can ensure Canada’s AI future is both trusted and future-ready.

• Define what sovereign AI means for the Canadian public sector
  
• Build secure and ethical frameworks for AI deployment
  
• Protect sensitive data while enabling innovation at scale
  
• Align AI investments with Canada’s values, priorities, and long-term digital resilience

Modernization isn’t just a technology challenge—it’s a people challenge. Success depends on leaders who can guide teams through uncertainty, build trust, and keep citizens at the center while upgrading systems and processes.

This session explores how public sector leaders are applying human-centered leadership to accelerate IT modernization. From aligning diverse stakeholders and supporting workforce resilience, to ensuring modernization efforts deliver real outcomes for citizens, this discussion will highlight strategies that put people first—both inside government and across the communities it serves.

This session will help you apply new approaches on how you can lead transformation with empathy, clarity, and impact.

• Build trust and confidence while leading modernization initiatives
  
• Align teams and stakeholders around shared goals and outcomes
  
• Create cultures of resilience and adaptability during transformation
  
• Keep citizen needs and service outcomes at the heart of IT modernization

AI offers powerful opportunities to help public servants work smarter—not just faster. This keynote will explore how governments are applying AI to simplify processes, augment decision-making, and free up time for higher-value work. The session will emphasize the importance of balancing innovation with trust, ethics, and human oversight.

This session will help you apply new approaches on how you can:

• Automate routine processes to unlock capacity for innovation
  
• Use AI to enhance collaboration, workforce productivity, and citizen engagement
  
• Build guardrails to ensure AI tools are transparent, fair, and secure
  
• Align AI initiatives with long-term service delivery and policy outcomes

As governments modernize and digitize services, accessibility must be at the heart of transformation—not an afterthought. This keynote explores how equity-based accessibility standards and research are shaping a more inclusive digital future for all Canadians.

This session will help you apply new approaches on how you can design services that remove barriers, deliver with empathy, and meet the needs of every citizen.

• Embed accessibility standards into every stage of digital service design
  
• Align accessibility with innovation, modernization, and service delivery goals
  
• Leverage research and partnerships to drive more equitable outcomes
  
• Build trust by ensuring government services are truly inclusive and citizen-centric

This session explores how collaboration, shared platforms, and unified digital infrastructure are enabling governments to deliver seamless experiences that cut across traditional boundaries.

Key Takeaways:

• Integrate service delivery across departments and jurisdictions
  
• Foster inter-agency collaboration through data and platform sharing
  
• Overcome cultural and structural barriers to connected government
  
• Build governance models that support whole-of-government delivery

As governments adopt AI, cloud platforms, and data-integrated services, strong data governance is no longer optional—it is foundational. Public institutions must protect sensitive information, comply with evolving regulations, and maintain the confidence of citizens who expect both personalization and privacy. The challenge is designing governance frameworks that enable innovation without exposing systems, people, or processes to unnecessary risk.

This session brings together leaders advancing modern privacy practices and responsible data strategies across the public sector.

• Build data governance models that support innovation while maintaining trust
  
• Strengthen privacy protections across AI-enabled and automated services
  
• Break down data silos with secure, policy-aligned interoperability
  
• Prepare for new regulatory requirements and emerging risk landscapes
  
• Embed transparency, accountability, and public confidence into data-driven government

Technology alone doesn’t deliver productivity—people and processes must evolve alongside it. This panel brings together digital, IT, and HR leaders to discuss how they are modernizing systems, rethinking workflows, and fostering a culture where employees are empowered to deliver more effective services.

• Identify barriers to productivity and strategies to overcome them
  
• Explore how modernization efforts align with workforce needs and citizen expectations
  
• Discuss how to measure productivity gains in a meaningful way
  
• Share lessons learned from change management and cultural transformation initiatives